Glasgow goes East to develop Indian links

Published: 8 May 2013

A delegation from the University of Glasgow travelled to India recently.

A delegation from the University of Glasgow travelled to India recently to attend a recruitment agent training event, alumni reception and various partnership development meetings with Indian counterparts. British High Commissioner India

The delegation led by the Principal, Professor Anton Muscatelli, comprised:

  • Professor Vivienne Baumfield, International  Dean for Eurasia and South Asia
  • Ian Thomson, Head of International Office
  • Caroline Boddie, Senior International Officer, Eurasia & South Asia
  • Dr Rob Aitken, Head of the School of Life Sciences
  • Professor Bill Cushley, School of Life Sciences
  • Professor Nigel Leask, Head of the School of Critical Studies
  • Professor Joemon Jose, School of Computing
  • Margaret Milner, School of Accounting & Finance
  • Katy Scott, International Officer, Eurasia & South Asia
  • Siobhan Crampsey, International Events Manager
  • Stuart Forsyth, Senior Communications Manager
  • Neharika Kataria, International Officer (In-country representative)

Following a series of joint workshops by the International Officer and the College of MVLS in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, an agent training event on April 22nd saw 16 senior representatives for the University’s main agents working across India discuss issues concerning student recruitment from India and the appeal of particular programmes to Indian students. In the evening, around 60 alumni and key contacts attended a drinks reception at the residence of the British High Commissioner to India, Sir James Bevan, where guests were updated

 on the latest activity at Glasgow, including the plans to development the Gilmorehill Campus. Indian alumni at reception

The following day saw a visit to the University of Delhi where deeper collaborative links were discussed, followed by a presentation to applicants to Glasgow in the late afternoon at the British Council offices.

During the visit, academic staff also took the opportunity to deliver lectures and discuss greater collaboration with partner institutions, such as the University of Calcutta, and engage with the media.

Professor Muscatelli said: “The recent visit to India was a great success and allowed us to engage with a wide range of audiences, from ensuring we are working effectively with our recruitment agents to enhance conversion, to discussing greater collaboration with our partners in the country and nurturing our relationships with our alumni.

“India is a key market for the University of Glasgow, both in terms of working with partners to meet the educational demands of the country’s students, and in growing our research links with the leading Indian institutions.”

Following recent changes to visa regulations, the University of Glasgow was awarded the maximum amount of 20 graduate entrepreneur visas – half set aside for MBA graduates – which allow students with viable business plans to apply to remain in the UK to develop their ideas. A total of 1,000 such visas are available nationally. Eligible students can work with the University’s recently-appointed Enterprise Manger, Brian Baillie, to develop their plans and apply for a visa.

A further change means all international PhD students can apply to remain the UK for up to one year to find skilled employment or set up a business.

Glasgow currently has partnerships in India with the University of Delhi, University of Calcutta, University of Navrachana, IIT Ropur and IISER Pune.

Academics seeking to develop collaborative projects internationally can apply for funding from the University and other external bodies – such as the UK-India Education Research Initiative. Details can be found on the University’s Internationalisation page:

http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/internationalisation/fundingopportunities/

First published: 8 May 2013

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